Quilt and cushion construction and button therefor

ABSTRACT

A button formed of male and female parts insertable through a quilt or cushion, the male part penetrating the female part and being locked in place when so inserted. Quilt or cushion constructed with such buttons.

United States Patent Randolph [451 Oct. 31, 1972 [54]- QUILT AND CUSHIONCONSTRUCTION AND BUTTON I THEREFOR Arthur J. Randolph, Santa Rosa,Calif.

Assignee: Tuttamatic, Inc., San Diego, Calif.

Filed: Feb. 8, 1971 Appl. No.: 113,514

Inventor:

US. Cl. ..5/356, 24/ 102 T Int. Cl. ..A44b l/18 Field of Search ..24/90PR, 90 W, 90 F, 90 B,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1951 De Swart ..24/141 11/1904Grosjean et a1 ..5/3 56 VII! I Primary Examiner-Donald A. GriffinAttorney-Gregg, l-lendricson & Caplan [57] ABSTRACT A button formed ofmale and female parts insertable through a quilt or' cushion, the malepart penetrating the female part and being locked in place when so.inserted. Quilt or cushion constructed with such buttons.

9 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENTED our 31 I972 sum 1 BF 2 filler.

Heretofore in quilt and other like construction laborious time consumingmethods have been required to apply buttons which extend from the top tothe bottom faces of the quilt and which serve to compress the filling.One method requires buttons with wire loops, the threading of string orcord through the loops and quilt by means of a needle, etc. Anothermethod requires metal buttons or rivets which are forced through thequilt and are deformed. Both methods are costly and cumbersome.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improvements in theconstruction of quilts, pads, cushions, mattresses and the like.

It is a further and particular object of the invention to provide abutton which can be mass produced and which can be applied to a quilt,pad, cushion or mattress by automatic means.

The above and other objects of the invention will be apparent from theensuing description and the appended claims.

For simplicitys sake only quilts are referred to in the followingdescription but it will be understood that the invention is applicableto cushions, pads, thin mattresses, etc.

One embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a quilt to which the buttons of thepresent invention are applied;

FIG. 2 is a section taken along theline 22 of FIG.

'FIG. 3A is a view in vertical longitudinal section through the quiltingbutton of the present invention, the two parts of the same being shownin extended position;

FIG. 3B is a similar view of the same quilting button but with the twomembers thereof in contracted or fully telescoped position;

FIG. 4A is a section taken along the line 4A-4A of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4B is a section taken along the line 4B-4B of FIG. 33;

FIG. 5 is a section taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3

FIG. 6 is a view in elevation of the two parts of the quilting button ofthe present invention;

FIG. 7 is a somewhat diagrammatic view showing the manner in which theparts of the quilting button of the present invention are applied to aquilt;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 7 but showing theapplicator mechanism in the process of'inserting the female part of thequilting button; v

FIG. 9 shows the same mechanism in the process of inserting the malepart of the quilting button;

FIG. 10 is a view in vertical cross section through a quilt showing thequilting button of the present invention installed and in its normal,extended position; and

FIG. 11 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 10 but showing'how aweight acting to compress the filler material of the quilt moves theguilting button to its retracted or fully telescoped position.

invention.

Referring now to the drawings and preliminarily to FIG. 1a quilt ormattress is shown at 10 comprising top and bottom covers and 11b,a'circumferential side piece 12 and a circumferential bead 13. Thenumeral 14 indicates one of the quilting buttons of the presentReferring now to FIGS. 3A, 3B and 6 the quilting button 14 comprises amale part or member 15 and a female part or member 16. The male member15 has a head 17, a shank l8 and a tapered tip 19 which, althoughsmaller in diameter than the shank 18 at its tip, has a greater diameterat its upper end and thereby forms an annular shoulder 20. The malemember 15, likewise the female member 16 may be of plastic construction,for example polyethylene, Nylon, etc. The

male member 15 is preferably of solid construction. The member 15 and/or16 may be of metal construction, e.g., steel, aluminum or brass, butplastic is preferred.

The female member 16 comprises a head 25 and a tubular body 26 having anaxial passage 27. The body 26 tapers somewhat at its upper end 28 forexample, about 15 and the axial passage 27 is tapered at 27a and formsan annular shoulder 29 with the wide portion of the axial passage 27.

As will be seen by reference to FIGS. 3A and 38 when the male member 15is inserted in the female manner 16 it is capable of assuming anuppermost or extended position as shown in FIG. 3A wherein the annularshoulder 20 of the male member abuts the annular shoulder 29 of thefemale member. The button 14 is also capable of assuming a fullyretracted or telescoped position as shown in FIG. 3B. The material ofwhich the female member 16 is formed, together with the taper of the endportion 28 of the female member and the taper 19 of the male member 15are such that, on applying a moderate amount of axial thrust in causingthe male member 15 to penetrate the female member 16 the tapered tip 28of the female member 16 will expand to permit full entry of the tip 19.Ordinarily no slitting of the tapered head portion 28 of the femalemember 16 is required for this purpose but if the nature or thickness ofthe tip 28 is such as to require slitting such may be done so that thetip 28 is more resilient. The taper 28 on the female member 16 alsofacilitates insertion.

Referring now to FIG. 7 a quilt is shown at 10 having top and bottomcovers 110 and 11b as described above and having a filler 35 such askapok or other material which is compressible but which ordinarily,unless a pressure is applied, assumes a volume as shown in FIG. 7.Apparatus is shown at 30 for applying the female member (one of which isshown at 16) and apparatus is shown at 31 for applying the male member(one of which is shown at 15). Suitable machinery may be provided foroperating the apparatus 30,31 automatically and in proper The apparatus30 comprises an extensible-retractable rod 36 having at its upper end aneedle 37 formed with a point 38. The apparatus also comprises a cone39. The needle 38 passes through the axial passage of the female member16. The apparatus 31 comprises an extensible-retractable rod 40 having achuck 41 to which the male member 15 is attached by suitable means (notshown). There is also provided a cone 42.

Referring now to FIG. 8 the first step in the series of operationsinvolved in applying the button 14 (after mounting the male and femalemembers 15 and 16) is there illustrated. The apparatus 30 ascends to theposition shown, the needle 37 penetrates the quilt including the bottomcover 11b, the filler 35 and the top cover 11a. The cone 31 serves tocompress the quilt and form a cup shaped cavity. At the same time thecone 42 of the apparatus 31 is caused to descend to compress the quiltfrom the top and to form a similar cup like cavity. At this stage ofoperation the male member does not contact the quilt. It will be notedthat the needle 37 is in registry with the male member 15. During theentry of the female member into and its passage through the cover 11band the filler 35 it cuts its way assisted by the taper 28. 1

Referring now to FIG. 9 the needle 37 is retracted by its mechanism 36after having made contact with the tip of the male member 15 and duringthis retracting movement the apparatus 40,41 causes the male member 15to descend. During its descent it is guided by the needle 37. The tip 19of the male member 15 en ters the upper constricted passage 27a of thefemale member 16 which, as described above, expands sufficiently topermit complete entry to the position shown in FIG. 9 and also shown inFIGS. 3A and 38. Then the apparatus 40,41 is retracted and the sameprocess is repeated to apply other buttons. In the case of a machinesuch as that described in my copending application, a plurality ofbuttons are applied simultaneously.

In FIG. 11 a load is shown at 45 simulating a weight, such as the weightof a person sitting or lying on the quilt l0, and it illustrates themanner in which the button 14 moves to its retracted or telescopedposition. It will also be apparent that the mating shoulders and 29prevent separation of the-members l5 and 16 when a compressing weight isreleased, the filler 35 expands and the members 15 and positions.

It will therefore be apparent that a quilting button and quiltconstruction have been provided which offer several advantages amongwhich are the fact that the button can be fabricated by mass productiontechniques from inexpensive plastic material which, however, is verydurable and which lends itself excellently to machine application to aquilt, mattress or the like.

lclaim:

l. A button of the character described comprising a male member and afemale member, the male member having a shank terminating in a taperedtip which forms an annular shoulder with the shank, said shoulder havinga greater diameter than the adjacent part of the shank; the femalemember having an outside taper at its tip and having an axial passageformed therethrough from end to end with an inside shoulder spaced fromone end of said member, such shoulder being complementary to theaforesaid shoulder on the male member whereby, when the two elements arebrought together with the male member inserted within the female memberthe two shoulders will engage one another upon attempted separation ofthe elements to prevent such separation; the construction of the femalemember being such that it will expand under radial pressure to permitentry of the male member.

2.'The button of claim 1 wherein each element is formed at the endopposite its respective shoulder with a head of enlarged diameter.

16 move to their extended 3. The button of claim 2 wherein the portionof the female member forming said passage is made of resilient plasticmaterials.

4. The button of claim 3 taper is about 15.

5. A construction of the character described comprising top and bottomcovers, compressible-expansible filling material confined between saidcovers and a plurality of buttons holding the filler in compressedcondition, each said button comprising a male member inserted throughone of the covers and a female member inserted through the other of saidcovers, the male member being located within the female member, saidmale and female members having complementary outside and insideshoulders which engage one another due to the expansive force of thefiller and thereby limit expansion of the filler and prevent separationof said members, each said female member having an outside taper at itstip and having an axial passage formed therethrough from end to end.

6. The construction of claim 5 wherein each of the button elements hasan enlarged head at the end opposite its shoulder.

7. The construction of claim 6 wherein that portion of thefemale memberwhich receives the male member is resilient.

8. A method of applying buttons to a structure of the characterdescribed comprising top and bottom covers and a compressible-expansiblefiller confined between wherein the angle of the said covers, eachbutton comprising a male memberhaving a head, a shank attached at oneend to the head, and a tapered tip at its other end forming an outsideshoulder spaced from such other end; each button also comprising afemale member having a head, a shank attached at one end to the head,and a tapered tip at the other end, said shank having a passageextending therethrough from end to end and also through said head, saidpassage being formed with an inside shoulder spaced from the tip end ofthe shank and cooperable with the outside shoulder on the male member toprevent withdrawal of the male member when it is inserted in the femalemember; the'tip end of said female member being resilient to permitinsertion of the male member; said method comprising: providing a firstholder for the male member and a second holder for the female member,said second holder including a needle; seating a female member on saidsecond holder and impaling it on said needle with the tip of the needleprojecting through the tapered tip of the female member; seating a malemember on the first holder; moving the second holder toward one cover ofsaid structure and forcing the female member through such cover and thefiller and causing the needle to project through the other cover; thenadvancing the first holder toward the projecting tip of the needle andin axial alignment therewith, meanwhile withdrawing the needle from thefemale member; and continuing such advance and withdrawal until the malemember is seated in the female member, the needle is withdrawn from thefemale member and the shoulders on the male and female members are freeto engage.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the female member isimpaled on a needlewhich is thrust through both covers and the filler of the quilt, is thenwithdrawn and, during withdrawal, acts as a guide for the male member.

1. A button of the character described comprising a male member and afemale member, the male member having a shank terminating in a taperedtip which forms an annular shoulder with the shank, said shoulder havinga greater diameter than the adjacent part of the shank; the femalemember having an outside taper at its tip and having an axial passageformed therethrough from end to end with an inside shoulder spaced fromone end of said member, such shoulder being complementary to theaforesaid shoulder on the male member whereby, when the two elements arebrought together with the male member inserted within the female memberthe two shoulders will engage one another upon attempted separation ofthe elements to prevent such separation; the construction of the femalemember being such that it will expand under radial pressure to permitentry of the male member.
 2. The button of claim 1 wherein each elementis formed at the end opposite its respective shoulder with a head ofenlarged diameter.
 3. The button of claim 2 wherein the portion of thefemale member forming said passage is made of resilient plasticmaterials.
 4. The button of claim 3 wherein the angle of the taper isabout 15*.
 5. A construction of the character described comprising topand bottom covers, compressible-expansible filling material confinedbetween said covers and a plurality of buttons holding the filler incompressed condition, each said button comprising a male member insertedthrough one of the covers and a female member inserted through the otherof said covers, the male member being located within the female member,said male and female members having complementary outside and insideshoulders which engage one another due to the expansive force of thefiller and thereby limit expansion of the filler and prevent separationof said members, each said female member having an outside taper at itstip and having an axial passage formed therethrough from end to end. 6.The construction of claim 5 wherein each of the button elements has anenlarged head at the end opposite its shoulder.
 7. The construction ofclaim 6 wherein that portion of the female member which receives themale member is resilient.
 8. A method of applying buttons to a structureof the character described compriSing top and bottom covers and acompressible-expansible filler confined between said covers, each buttoncomprising a male member having a head, a shank attached at one end tothe head, and a tapered tip at its other end forming an outside shoulderspaced from such other end; each button also comprising a female memberhaving a head, a shank attached at one end to the head, and a taperedtip at the other end, said shank having a passage extending therethroughfrom end to end and also through said head, said passage being formedwith an inside shoulder spaced from the tip end of the shank andcooperable with the outside shoulder on the male member to preventwithdrawal of the male member when it is inserted in the female member;the tip end of said female member being resilient to permit insertion ofthe male member; said method comprising: providing a first holder forthe male member and a second holder for the female member, said secondholder including a needle; seating a female member on said second holderand impaling it on said needle with the tip of the needle projectingthrough the tapered tip of the female member; seating a male member onthe first holder; moving the second holder toward one cover of saidstructure and forcing the female member through such cover and thefiller and causing the needle to project through the other cover; thenadvancing the first holder toward the projecting tip of the needle andin axial alignment therewith, meanwhile withdrawing the needle from thefemale member; and continuing such advance and withdrawal until the malemember is seated in the female member, the needle is withdrawn from thefemale member and the shoulders on the male and female members are freeto engage.
 9. The method of claim 8 wherein the female member is impaledon a needle which is thrust through both covers and the filler of thequilt, is then withdrawn and, during withdrawal, acts as a guide for themale member.